For those of you celebrating the holiday, which wines will grace your table? We are going decidedly Italian with a Ripasso Valpolicella from Secco-Bertani, Il Donato from Puglia and a Sinskey PN There may be a few others as well.I see a Marcien 2006 from Napa lying around the condo. We will see what lasts until tomorrow!

.....we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. A. Lincoln

Ham and scalloped potatoes here and maybe green beans as I didn't pick up any asparagus. I decided I will open a 2006 Williams Selyem Weir Vineyard Pinot Noir. Weir Vineyard is in the Yorkville Highlands AVA in southern Mendocino County, CA situated between Alexander Valley in Sonoma County and Anderson Valley in Mendocino County.

Tyrrell's 2002 Vat 47 Chardonnay can be quite a beast (and also annoyingly variable with cork and oxidation problems) and although I have not tried one for some time now, I wasn't expecting a whole lot. Upon opening, the colour was a gloriously bright yellow with virtually no evidence of any significant age. The nose delivered a bevy of fresh complex scents of butter, yellow peach, honeydew melon, grilled nuts, fresh cream with a substantial but not overpowering delicious oak backing. Likewise, the palate delicious and loaded with bucketloads of crunchy green fruit, grapefruit, a distinct vein of minerality, plenty of lively acidity and subtle oak. Possessing excellent poise and fine balance, finishing with very good length and some attractive astringency, this excellent white is worthy of something approaching 90 points.

Chapel Hill's 1990 Reserve Shiraz is a bit of a legend with me. I bought quite a lot of this and cellared and drunk over a case until circa 2005. This bottle was acquired recently on the secondary market and again, not many expectations accompanied its procural. In top condition, harbouring a delightful medium ruby core, stunning aromatics of sweet plums, blackberry and licorice with leather and earth in the background. The palate's fully resolved with sweet mature fruit aka the nose, of medium weight with subtle integrated oak, melted tannins and a long soft finish. At the end of its drinking window most probably but a wonderful experience all the same. 91 points.

.....we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. A. Lincoln

How is that drinking, Bill? I have the 2001 model that I have been thinking about opening.

Sam-NJ said it was doing very nicely. Reflective of the uber acidic vintage, but plenty of stone fruit to balance. I can report that the aromas were enticing. It did not appear the leak had much adverse impact.